Christmas sales were a moment of reprieve as high streets play whac-a-mole February 2, 2023 Even the biggest retailers were severely dented by the pandemic, strikes, inflation and rising energy costs. It might be a game of whac-a-mole, but the high street is ready for another year, writes Richard Curry.
Tate Modern privacy ruling could see City restaurants and museums hit with more nuisance claims, lawyers warn February 1, 2023 City restaurants, museums and art galleries could be hit with more nuisance claims, lawyers have warned, after the Supreme Court ruled today that the Tate Museum’s viewing terrace intruded on the privacy of residents in a glass building right next to the gallery. Five residents of the Neo Bankside development on the South Bank took [...]
7 ways to celebrate – or avoid – Valentine’s Day in London February 1, 2023 Valentine’s Day rolls around again this 14 February. We get it, it can be triggering, especially if you’ve recently been through a break up or aren’t feeling sure of what you want romantically right now. So these events are inclusive for everyone, whether you think Valentine’s Day is a commercial, exploitative waste of space or [...]
Cafe Koko: New Camden Pizza restaurant review January 31, 2023 Arriving in the evening, you can see the warm orange glow of Koko before you see the building itself. Taking up an entire block, the recently renovated, 122-year-old music hall once again sits at the heart of Camden, having closed in 2020 following a fire. The £70m refurbishment includes an extensive private members’ area with [...]
Skiing in St Moritz and Pontresina, the Swiss towns where British ski holidays were born January 29, 2023 The Grand Hotel Kronenhof is like a Wes Anderson movie brought to life. You join me in Pontresina, in Switzerland’s Eastern Alps, a pretty little mountain town of 18th century villas and Belle Epoque buildings. The hotel itself is large and neo-baroque, crowned with a jaunty green dome, and was opened in 1848 before being [...]
The Square Mile and Me: The Lord Mayor on Christopher Wren, the Old Dr. Butler’s Head and why he admires Willie Purves January 26, 2023 Every week we dip into the memory back of the City's great and good. This week it's the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Nicholas Lyons.
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin lashes out at ‘vast disparity in VAT treatment’ between pubs and supermarket alcohol sales January 25, 2023 Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has launched a scathing attack on the government, saying the biggest threat to pubs is the “vast disparity in tax treatment” compared to restaurants and supermarkets. The outspoken chain boss said he was “cautiously optimistic” for the financial year ahead, as the firm published its like-for-like sales in the 25 weeks [...]
Beyonce Dubai gig at Atlantis The Royal: Inside the world’s most lavish launch January 24, 2023 “There are two types of people in the world. The people that are in Dubai right now. And us.” So went the meme, shared tens of millions of times across the world this weekend. The occasion – as if you haven’t already heard – was the launch of a self-described “icon”, the Atlantis The Royal [...]
The Alps, 1920s style: aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express on its inaugural trip to ski resorts January 23, 2023 We discover that “The Train,” as society types call the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, is the ultimate 1920s immersive theatre experience The train is careering through the darkened outskirts of Paris when oysters are placed at my table to pair with my last glug of champagne. I’m eating from an embroidered armchair more accurately described as a [...]
KERB: How London street food giant behind Seven Dials Market aims to make Berlin taste better January 23, 2023 The London street food favourite behind Seven Dials Market, KERB, is expanding via a venue in Berlin’s famous Potsdamer Platz. German foodies will be able to indulge their palates across a two-story street food market which is set to open in the Sony Centre by next year. The market will showcase 12 independent food vendors [...]